Ten children killed in Afghanistan suicide blast

A suicide bomb attack targeting US and Afghan forces has killed 10 children heading home from school in eastern Afghanistan.

Police chief of Paktia province, Zalmai Uriakhail, said one policeman was also killed and two coalition soldiers were among about 16 people wounded.

Mr Uriakhail said the attack occurred in a market in Chamkani district as pupils were leaving school after morning lessons.

"A suicide bomber on a motorbike detonated his explosives in a crowded area outside the school," he said. "The children had finished their studies and they were heading home."

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said two NATO soldiers had also been killed in the blast.

"We can confirm there was a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack on an ISAF convoy," an ISAF spokesman said. "Two ISAF service members were killed."

The interior ministry confirmed the attack and said 10 children and a policeman were killed, with 15 children also injured.

The attack came hours after a roadside bomb killed seven members of a family in Laghman province, also in east Afghanistan.

Four women, a child and a man died when their car hit a Taliban-planted improvised explosive device near the town of Mehtarlam, Sarhadi Zwak, the provincial administration spokesman, said in a statement.

The Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001, have repeatedly said they do not target civilians in their war against the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai, but their attacks often kill non-combatants.

The insurgents issued a statement on Friday denying involvement in a suicide and gun attack on International Committee of the Red Cross offices in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

The statement repeated the declaration that the Taliban never target civilians.

Spokesmen for the insurgents were not immediately available to comment on Monday's attacks.